Chevy names prices of 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe, convertible

The 2014 Corvette Stingray, a study in sharp edges and angles, boasts 450 horsepower, 450 pound-feet of torque and a zero-to-60 mph time of less than 4 seconds, according to Chevrolet.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray, a study in sharp edges and angles, boasts 450 horsepower, 450 pound-feet of torque and a zero-to-60 mph time of less than 4 seconds, according to Chevrolet. (Alan Vanderkaay)

That extra money buys you a lot of changes, not the least of which is the controversial styling.

The C7 is the first Corvette in decades to deviate from the traditional design of two sets of round taillights. The lamps on the 2014 model are distinctively more angled, which Chevrolet has said was a conscious effort to give the car a more global appeal and to lure in younger buyers for whom the nostalgic round look was unimportant.

The 2014 models also get a nice bump in power. Horsepower and torque are both rated at 450. Buyers will be able to choose from a seven-speed manual transmission with rev-matching, or a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

To keep these 6.2-liter V-8 engines more fuel efficient, General Motors baked in technological goodies like direct injection and continuously variable valve timing. Making the engine's job easier is the fact that the C7 shed 99 pounds from the C6.

C7 buyers can also look forward to standard equipment like a carbon fiber hood and carbon fiber removable roof panel (on the coupe), an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Bose nine-speaker stereo, Sirius satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity, LED daytime running lights and eight-way power seats.

Chevrolet said a C7 optioned like the one it had on display at the car's world debut in Detroit in January would sell for $73,360. That loaded model included navigation, color heads-up display, heated and cooled Napa leather seats and an upgraded Bose stereo.

Since it also included the high-performance Z51 package, models like the display car get upgrades to some of the mechanicals too. This includes 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels, larger brake rotors, a limited-slip differential and revised gear ratios.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray is expected to start rolling into Chevrolet dealerships in September.

Ford’s revolutionary aluminum-body F-150 pickup truck does well in most crash tests but is significantly more expensive to repair, according to an analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Automakers say they are building the best cars ever, and there’s proof on the road. The average age of vehicles in the U.S. has climbed to a record 11.5 years, according to research firm IHS Automotive.